The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-10
EDITOR KATKOFF DYING.
His Wonderful Influence Over the Russian
Gar I'm Matters of State.

His Wonderful Influence Over the Russian
Gar I'm Matters of State.
london, July 9-The condition of Katkoff,
editor or the Moscow Gazette, remains un
changed, but il is not expected he can recover.
There are two cars in the Russian empire.
the one, Alexander ILL., of the house of Romanof.
and the other, Michael Nikiforovitch Katkoff.
editor of the Moscow Gazette. The first is ruler
in name. the second is ruler in fact A remark
able parsonage is the veteran journalist who
stands at the head of the most reactonary and
retrogade organ or opinion in the world Like
all men of earnest conviction, he is thoroughly
aggressive in his methods and possesses the
power to mold the will of others in accordance
with his own.
One of the first victims to fall beneath the
sway of his sophistry was the present Emperor
while heir apparent and the influence secured
at that early period never diminished. Katkoff
laughed at imperial Ministers and press censors
when his bold language aroused their ire. One
might almost say that he laughed at the Gar
himself conscious was he of ultimate tri-
umph. The secret of his power lay in the fact
that he had thoroughly won the Gar over to his
way of thinking to the ends to be attained.
Serious imperial disfavor could therefore never
result from the means he employed. Thus Kat
koff knew the Gear hated Germany. and so he
lost no occasion to pitch into" that country.
even to the extent of endaDgering Russa's re-
lations with her.
Michael Nikiforovitcn Katkoff was born in the
ancient city of Moscow, in 1920, of noble and
wealthy parents. and was brought up in the lux
ury peculiar to rich Russian households. AT the
age of eighteen, after having passed with honors
at the Moscow University, he was sent abroad to
complete his studies, and went through several
courses of the universities of Noenigsberg and
Berlin. In the last-named city he was pupil
of the celebrated philosopher Schelling, and upon
returning to Moscow was appointed professor of
philosophy at the university. The young man
at this period wac thoroughly mbued with the
progressive ideas current throughout Germany
and they found expression in his teachings.
When it is said that this occurred during the
reign of the Gear Nicholas, when one liberal
thought almost suficed to send man over the
Ural mountains the bodness OF the youthful
professor will be thoroughly appreciated. Still,
1t would be exaggerstion to say that katkotfs
tendencies were revolutionary In the ordinary
sense of the word. In common with many of his
colleagues at the university he advocated grad
ual and peaceful change IN the syste m of govern
ment, a change to be initiated from on high, not
from below, and eliminating in a form of con-
stitutionalsm similar to that enjoyed by the
British people
like Nicholas could only be chimera at its best.
When the Gar learned of these encroachments
of western civilization in the public colleges he
ordered general overhauling of the corps OF
professors and return to the old narrow minded
systom of schooling. katkoH lost his place, and
after few years of enforced idleness adopted
journalism as his profession. In 1896 he founded
the RusskI Viestnik Russian Messenger). and
in guarded manner as possible gave express
sion TO his pet theories. On the other hand. he
declared open war on the Russian social revolu-
tionary party, whose leaders, Michael Bakunin
and Alexander Herzen, were intriguing against
the Russian government in Geneva and London.
This anti-socialistic campaign earned for Katkof
the Emperors approval and secured for him the
much needed immunity az regards his liberal
propaganda.
In 1861 Katkoff took charge of the now world
renowned MosKovski Viedomosti lMoscow Ga
zette) which he has stuck to ever since, and
here an entirely new phase In his life COM
mences With the growth of government pat
ronage it began TO be noticed that the editors
advocacy of liberalism was becoming lukewarm.
His aspirations seemed to be turning in
tirel- different direction. From q friend OF
''westernism" he was growing TO be it's worst
enemy, and was now championing Pan Slav-
ism" the unifcaton of all the Slav elements
of Europe into one great empire
The Polish and Lithuanian troubles OF 1864
FED fuel to the flame. Katkoff demanded
energetic suppression OF the revolt, and caused
the government to send General MuraireH to
Wilma with a.large force. The late Car had al
ready begun TO feel the mans great influence
over the Russian people. or rather the ignorant
aud barbarous portion of them, and dared not
oppose him. Poland was crushed down with
iron heel, and Katkoff wrote long editorials ex-
pressive of glee that order should again reign
in Warsaw"
At the close of the Polish instruction Kstkoff
turned his attention to the public school system.
He was confirmed reactonary, and, with
the zeal of all renegades. sought to undo the
work he had himself helped to commence. The
seed of liberalism he had sown SO many years be-
fore which. after the Car Nicholas's death, had
taken root under his more tolerant son. was now
to be thoroughly eradicared the so-called classic
humanitarian system of schooling to be sup
planted by the strictly classical and military
pedagogism.
In his fight against the liberal system of edu-
cation Katkoff was ably seconded by Professor
Leonteff of the Moscow University. Their ef-
forts were unavailing at the start, the Minister
of Public instruction, Golovnin, being man of
broad minded views. and opposed to any return
TO the old order of things. Disappointed. the
twain started private school of their own. in
Moscow which still exists under the name OF
the Nicolai Alexandrevitch Institut- Here they
carried out their system so thoroughly that, in
1866 the new Minister of Public instruction,
Count Tolstoi. decided TO model all educational
In accordance with their theories,
and TO this day Katkoffs spirit rules the youth
of Russia
Great as was KatkofTs influence IN Russia
under the late Gar, 10 has increased ten-foit
since the accession OF Alexander ILL., who, rs
already stated, was early convert to the edi-
tors views Not long after Alexander lis
death, his successor decided to call together the
heads of the provincial assemblies OF RUSSIA.
and confer with them as to the future poilcv OF
the government Katkof at once stepped IN
with his mighty pen A Car OF Russia submit
TO the decision of any body Of representatives.
Never! What would become OF the imperial
dignityl The Gar was not proof against the
editors arguments, and the ZeDstov heads were
not convened.
In all his undertakings Katkoff has ever been
successful He it who disgraced Loris Melt